Internal-combustion engine.



. 1. SPUHRER.

:manual coMausnou ENGINE.

APPLICATION Huil) MAY 22. |911.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

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6.1. SPOHRER.

INTERNAL coMBusTIoN ENGINE.

1,289,058. APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. IEIH,` Patentednec.' 24 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GREGORY J. SPOHRER, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR UF ONE-HALF T0 CHARLES E. VAN VLECK, 0F MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

INTERN AL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

Application tiled May 22, 1917. Serial No. 170,202.

To all ywhom t may concern Be it known that I, GREGORY J. SPOHRER, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal-Combustion Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

4This invention relates to internal combustion engines of the four-cycle type and is directed to the provision of an improved form of valve mechanism for such an engine. The object of the invention is to provide a simple form of valve mechanism for controllingr the inlet of the combustible fuel to the cylinders of a four-cycle engine and the exhaust of the products of combustion from the cylinder and particularly to eliminate the cam shaft, cams, push rods and two to one gearing. now commonly used to operate the inlet and exhaust valves.

The distinguishing feature of the invention is that the inlet and exhaust valves are actuated by valve gear which is operated once for each revolution of the engine shaft, the selection of the valve which is actuated in each o eration of the valve gear being governed y the pressure existing within the cylinder.

A direct mechanical connection is provided from the end of the piston to the inlet and exhaust valves and this connection is such that on one downward stroke. of the piston the inlet valve is opened while the exhaust valve remains closed and on the next downward stroke of the piston the exhaust valve is opened while the inlet valve remains closed. To insure this alternate opening of the two valves in alternate downward strokes of the piston, I make use of the fact that at the time when the exhaust valve should be opened, there is a substantial pressure within the cylinder, namely, the pressure due to the combustion of the explosive gases still existing in the cylinder as thepiston nears the end of its power stroke. This pressure may be utilized to hold the inlet valve upon its seat while permitting the exhaust valve to he opened by making the area of the inlet valve which is exposed to the gaseous pressure substantially greater than the corresponding area of the exhaust valve.4 The two valves are provided with springs for holding them normally upon their seats and the spring for the exhaust valve is made of substantially greater strength than that for the inlet valve. During the suction stroke of the piston the connection from the piston to the two valves operates to open the inlet valve only, the exhaust valve being held upon its seat by the greater strength of its spring. As the piston moves upward on the coinpression stroke, the inlet valve closes and both valves remain closed. At the end of the compression stroke the charge is ignited and combustion and the development of power take place during the following downward stroke which is the power stroke. Toward the end of this downward power stroke of the piston, the connection from the piston to the two valves exerts a pull at a time when there is a substantial pressure within the cyllnder and this pull opens the exhaust valve only, the inlet valve being held on its seat by reason of its greater area exposed to the pressure within the cylinder. Special means are provided for holding the exhaust valve open for an extended period which includes practically all of the upward stroke of the piston during which the products of combustion are expelled from the cylinder.

The valve mechanism therefore consists of a simple mechanical connection from the reciprocating piston directly to the two valves or to the stems of the valves. During each downward stroke of the piston this connection exerts a pull upon the two valves tending to open them and this pull is arranged to open one of the valves only in one downward movement of the piston and the other valve only in the next downward movement .of the piston. The selection of first one and then the other of the two valves as the one which will be opened is effected in the case of the inlet valve by the fact that its spring is of less tension than the spring of the exhaust valve and in `the case of the exhaust valve by the fact that it is opened at a time when there is a substantial pressure within the cylinder and the inlet valve is held on its seat by reason of its greater area exposed to the cylinder pressure. n

The features of the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated. Referring to these drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse section of an internal combustion engine having the improved valve mechanism applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the arrangement of the valves and the operating connection therefor with reference to the cylinder axis; Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the cylinder and piston on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 'l is an enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of the cylinder and the piston; Fig. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 4 and illustrating a modification of the construe tion; Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view illustrating a further modification; and Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive are diagrammatic views illus trating successive positions of the piston.

Referring to these drawings, the cylinder 11, casing 12, engine shaft 13, crank 14, piston 15, connecting rod 16 and water jacket 17 are of the usual or any suitable construction. The upper end of the cylinder is shown as closed by a casting 18 provided with openings adapted to receive an inlet valve casting 19 and an exhaust valve casting 20. The inlet valve is shown at 21 controlling a passage through the inlet casting 19 to the interior of the cylinder 11. The inlet valve is provided with a stem 22 and a spring 23 serving to hold thc inlet valve 21 normally upon its seat. The exhaust valve is shown at 24 controlling an outlet passage from the cylinder through the exhaust valve casting 20. This exhaust valve is provided with a stem 25 and spring 26 serving to hold the exhaust valve 24 normally upon its seat. The spring 26'for the exhaust valve is of greater tension than the spring 23 Aof the inlet valve.

The exhaust valve is provided with means for holding it open `after it has been opened until it is positively moved to the closed position. Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose. In Fig. 4 an impositive 'stop is shown for this purpose. It consists of a lunger27 movable in an opening provide in the exhaust valve casting A and ressed toward the stem by a spring 28.

he stem25 is provided with two notches or depressions, eit er of which is adapted to receive the end of the plunger 27. When the exhaust valve 24 is closed, the endof the plunger 27 lies' in the notch 29. When the" 'exhaust valve is moved positively to the open position, the plunger 27 is forced back by the inclined wall of the notch 29 until the end of the plunger drops into the other notch 30. When the end -of the plunger is in the notch 30 it holds the exhaust valve in the open position against the tension oi' spring 26 until the valve is positivelyY moved to the closed osition.

The two va ves 21 and 24 are opened alternately in successive revolutions of the engine shaft by a direct mechanical connection between them and the piston 15. This direct mechanical connection may be constructed as shown in Fig. 4. A tube 31 is set into the end of the piston extending in the direction of the axis of the piston. As this tube extends beyond the cross-head 32 of the piston, it is offset from the axis of the piston. Preferably it is positioned as indicated in Fig. 3 so that it will clear the cross-head 32 and also lie outside of the path of oscillation of the connecting rod 1G. he lower end of tube 31 is closed and in this lower closed end a buffer 33. The upper end of the tube is closed by a plug 34 and a buifer 35 is secured to the lower end of the plug. A rod 3G extends through a central opening in the plug 34 and buffer 35 and at its lower end it has a head 37. The upper end of rod 36 is connected to a lever 38, the ends of which are connected by pin and slot connections to ears on the faces of the inlet and exhaust valves 21 and 24.

The construction of the direct mechanical connection just described in connection with Fig. 4 may be modified in various ways. Thus, in Fig. 5, the rod 36 is shown as extended up through a long bearin in the head 18 of the cylinder and pivotal?) connected to a lever 38 whose ends bear upon the upper ends of the stems 22 and 25 of the inlet and exhaust valves 21 and 24 respectively. Also. the construction above described for retaining the exhaust valve in the open position after it has been opened may be modified in various Ways. In Fig. 6, the stem 25 of the exhaust valve 24 is shown as provided with a circumferential groove within which an expansible split ring 39 lies. The bearing for the stem 25 in theexhaust valve casting 20 is provided with two circumferential grooves 40. When the valve 24 is in the closed position the ring 39 expands within the upper groove 40 but when the valve is moved to the open position the ring 39 is first contracted and then moved to the lower groove 40 and its expansion within the lower groove 40 holds the valve '24' in the open position against the tension of the spring 26.

The operation 'of this valve mechanism will be better understood by reference to Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive. Fig. 7 shows the pis ton movin downwardly on the suction stroke of t e cycle. In the course of this downward stroke of the piston the suction created by the piston maybe sufficient to overcome the pressure of the spring 23 tending to hold the inlet valve 21 upon its seat and may open that valve to admit the explosive mixture to the cylinder. But if the inlet valve is not opened by the suction thereon, it will be positivelyv opened as the piston nears the end of its downward movement just before the piston reaches the position in which it is shown in Fig. 7. As the piston moves downwardly, the head 37 of the rod 36 nears the upper closed end of the tube 3l until finally the head is engaged by the buiier 35 and a direct mechanical pull is exerted by the piston upon the two valves 21 and 24 through the rod 36 and lever 38. The exhaust valve 24, however, will not be opened because of the greater strength of its spring 26 over that of the spring 23 for the inlet valve and the greater area of the inlet valve ,exposed to the suction within the cylinder. Therefore, this direct mechanical pull of the piston through the rod 36 will operate through the lever 38 to open the inlet valve only, the lever 33 turning about its pivotal connection to the exhaust valve 24 to permit. the exhaust valve to remain closed. This condition of the parts is indicated in Fig. 7. The rush of air into and through the carbureter caused by the suction within the cylinder when the inlet valve is opened, causes the explosive charge to be formed within the carbureter and to be drawn into the cylinder through the inlet passage controlled by the valve 21.

As the crank passes the central position and the piston starts to move upward, the spring 23 closes the inlet valve 21 and thereafter the charge within the cylinder is compressed while the piston is moving upward. This condition of the parts is indicated in Fig. 8. When the piston is near the top or its range of movement within the cylinder, the explosive mixture therein is ignited and the piston moves downwardly on its power stroke. This condition of the parts is indicated in Fig. 9.

As the piston nears the end of its downward movement on the power stroke, the head 37 of the rod 36 is engaged by the buii'er 35 at the upper end of the tube 31 and a direct mechanical pull is exerted by the piston upon the lever 38 connecting the rod 36 to the two valves 2l and 24. At this time there is still a considerable pressure within the cylinder although the combustible mixture after being ignited has expanded considerably while the piston moved downward. It will be noted that the inlet valve 21 is of considerably greater area than the exhaust valve 24 so that the pressure within the cylinder will be far more effective to hold the inlet valve 21 upon its seat than to hold the exhaust valve 24 upon its scat. This difference between the effect of the pressure within the cylinder upon the two valves is such that when the lever 38 is pulled downwardly by the downward movement of the piston, the inlet valve 2l will remain upon its seat and the exhaust valve 24 will be pulled open, the lever 38 turning about its pivotal connection to the valve 21. The lever 38 and the two valves 2l and 24 will then be in the positions indicated in Fig. 10, the exhaust valve being open and the products of combustion escapin from the cylinder through the passage int ecasting20. When the exhaust valve is moved to this open position it is held in that position by the plunger 27 ring 39, or similar impositive lock. The exhaust valve therefore remains open while the piston completes its downward movement, passes the dead center, and starts on its upward movement forcing the products of combustion out through the exhaust outlet. When the piston starts on its upward movement, the buffer 35 moves away from the head 37 of rod 36 and the exhaust valve remains open, held by the impositive lock above referred to. This condition of the parts continues throughout practically the whole of the upward movement of the piston on the exhaust stroke, the condition then existing being indicated by Fig. 10. When the piston nears the end of its upward movement, the head 37 of rod 36 is engaged by the bu'er 33 at the lower end of the tube 31 and rod 36 is positively moved upward. This movement is transmitted to the lever 38 and exhaust valve 24 and it results in positively moving the exhaust valve to the closed position, the impositivo lock 27 or 39 yielding to permit this closing movement of the valve. The parts are thus brought back to the initial condition in readiness for a repetition of this four-cycle operation.

It will thus be seen that there is a direct mechanical connection from the piston of the engine to the inlet and exhaust valves whereby those two valves are operated without the employment of the usual cam shaft and cams and that the two valves controlling the inlet and exhaust are operated alternately during successive revolutions of the engine shaft, the inlet valve being opened during the suction stroke and the exhaust valve being operated near the conclusion of the power stroke. The same mechanism is employed for opening the two valves but they are arranged to be operated alternately during successive revolutions of the engine shaft by reason of the greater power of the exhaust valve spring 26 over the inlet valve VSpring 23 and the greater area of the inlet valve 21 over the exhaust valve 24. Because of these provisions the inlet valve 21 only will be opened in response to a downward pull on the rod 36 when atmospheric pressure prevails within the cylinder but when a substantial pressure exists within the cylinder, the exhaust valve 24 alone will be opened notwithstanding the greater tension of its spring 26 as the pressure within the cylinder exerted upon the relatively large area of the inlet valve 21 will serve to hold that valve on its seat- While the exhaust valve 2li of relatively small area is moved to the open position.

While I have illustrated and described the embodiment of the invention at present preferred and two structural modifications ivhichmay be employed if desired, Wish it understood that the invention is not limited to any specific construction but on the contrary may be utilized in engines differing Widely as to their structural characteristics, it being essential only that the engine be of the four-cycle type and that the inlet and exhaust valves be opened alternately in successive revolutions of the engine shaft by operating mechanism which is actuated once in each revolution of the engine shaft and Whose action is under the control of the pressure existing Within the cylinder, the inlet valve being opened during the suction stroke of the engine and the exhaust valve near the end of the power stroke. All such structural modifications I consider within the scope of the invention and I aim to cover them Within the terms of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, a piston, an engine shaft to which the piston is connected, inlet and exhaust valves for the cylinder, and a connection from the piston to the valves including a part reciprocated directly by the piston through which the piston opens the valves alternately during successive revolutions of the engine shaft; substantially as described.

2. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, an engine shaft, a piston in the cylin-v der connected to the shaft and moving Within the cylinder on suction, compression, power and exhaust strokes successively, inlet and exhaust valves for the cylinder and a connection from the piston to the inlet and exhaust valves including a part reciprocated directly by the piston for operatiner the inlet valve in each suction stroke and the exhaust valve near the end of each power stroke in the operation of the engine; substantially as described.

3. A four-cycle internal combustion en- Uinc comprising the combination of a cyliner, a piston, an engine shaft to which the piston 1s connected, inlet and exhaust valves mounted on the head of the cylinder, and connections to the valves from the operative face of the piston which is exposed to the fuel for causing the piston to open the inlet and exhaust valves alternately; substantially as described.

4. A four-cycle internal combustion enf gine comprising the combination of a cylinder, a piston, an engine shaft to which the piston is connected, inlet and exhaust valves for the cylinder, the inlet valve being of greater area than the exhaust valve, and a. connection from the piston to the valves including a part reciprocated directly by the piston for causing the piston to open the valves alternately durine successive-revolutions of the engine shaft; substantially as described.

5. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, a piston, an engine shaft to which the piston is connected, inlet and exhaust valves for the cylinder. springs for moving the valves to and holding them on their seats, the spring for the exhaust valve being of greater tension than that for the inlet valve, and connections from the piston to the two valves for causing the piston to open the valves alternately durinfr successive revolutions of the engine shaft; substantially as described.

6. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, a piston, an engine shaft to which the piston is connected, inlet and exhaust valves for the c linder, springs for holding the valves on t eir seats, the inlet valve being of greater area than the exhaust valve and the spring for the exhaust valve being of greater tension than that for the inlet valve, and connections from the piston to the valves for causing the piston to open the valves alternately during successive revolutions of the engine shaft; substantially as described.

7. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, a piston, an engine shaft to which the piston is connected, an exhaust valve mounted on the cylinder, a mechanical connection from the piston to the exhaust valve through which the piston opens the exhaust valve when near one end of its range of movement and closes the exhaust valve when near the other end of its range of movement, and means for positively holding the exhaust valve in the open position While the piston is moving from one end of the cylinder to the other; substantially as described.

8. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, an engine shaft, a piston in the cylinder connected to the shaft and reciprocating therein on suction, compression, power and exhaust strokes successively, an exhaust valve mounted on the cylinder, an inlet valve also mounted on the cylinder, and a connection from the piston to the exhaust and inlet valves including part reciprocated directly by the piston for opening the exhaust valve near the end of the povver stroke and closing it near the end of the exhaust stroke and for opening the inlet valve at the beginnin of iis the suction stroke; substantially as descri ed.

9. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, an engine shaft, a piston in the cylinder connected to the shaft and reciprocating therein on suction, compression, power and exhaust strokes successively, an exhaust valve mounted on the cylinder, an inlet valve also mounted on the cylinder, a connection from the piston to the valves includin a part reciprocated directly by the piston or opening the exhaust valve near the end of each power stroke and for opening the inlet valve at the beginning of each suction stroke, means for retaining the exhaust valve in the open position, and means for positivel closin the exhaust valve near the endV o the ex aust stroke; substantially as described.

10. A four-cycle internal combustion en' gine comprisin the combination of a cylinder, an engine s aft, a piston in the cylinder connected to the shaft and reciprocating therein on suction, compression, power and exhaust strokes successively, inlet and exhaust valves for the cylinder, a connection from the piston to the valves including a part reciprocated directly by the Jnfor opeiliingfthe inlet valve d g each1 suction stro e, or openin f A.naast va ve near the end of cada-)g/t stroke and for clos- 1n the exhaust valve near the end of each exhaust stroke, and means for holding the exhaust valve in the open position when it has been moved to that position; substantially as described.

11. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, an engine shaft, a piston in the cylinder connected to the engine shaft, two valves mounted on the cylinder and means for operating the two valves alternately during successive revolutions of the engine shaft comprising a rod carried by the piston and movable relatively thereto, and connections from the rod to the two valves; substantially as described.

l2. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, a piston, an engine shaft to which the piston is connected, inlet `and exhaust valves mounted on the head of the cylinder, the inlet valve being of greater area than the exhaust valve, and connections to the valves from the operative face of the piston which is exposed to the fuel for causing the piston to open the inlet and exhaust valves alternately; substantially as described.

13. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, a piston, an engine shaft to which the piston is connected, inlet and exhaust valves mounted on the head of the cylinder, springs for the two valves, the spring for the exhaust valve being of greater tension than that for the inlet valve, and connections to the valves from the operative face of the gine comprising the combination of a cyll inder, a piston, an engine shaft to which the piston is connected, inlet and exhaust valves mounted on the head of the cylinder, the inlet valve being of greater area than the exhaust valve, springs for the said valves, the spring for the exhaust valve bcing of greater tension than that for the inlet valve, and connections to the valves from the operative face of the piston which is exposed to the fuel for causing the piston to open the inlet and exhaust valves alternately; substantially as described.

15. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, an engine shaft, a piston in the cylinder connected to the shaft and moving within the cylinder on suction, compression, power and exhaust strokes successively, inlet and exhaust valves mounted on the'head of the cylinder, and connections to the valves from the operative face of the piston which is exposed to the fuel for operating the inlet valve in each suction stroke and the exhaust valve near the end of each power stroke in the operation of the engine; substantially as described.

16. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, an engine shaft, a piston in the cylinder connected to the shaft and moving within the cylinder on suction, compression. power and exhaust strokes successively, inlet and exhaust valves mounted on the head of the cylinder, the inlet valve being of greater area than the exhaust valve, and connections to the valves from the operative face of the piston which is exposed to the fuel for operating the inlet valve in each suction stroke and the exhaust valve near the end of each power stroke in the operation of the engine; substantially as described.

17. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, a piston, an engine shaft to which the piston is connected, inlet and exhaust valves for the cylinder, a single connection to the two valves from a part moving in correspondence with the rotation of the engine shaft operating to open the two valves alternately in successive revolutions of the engine shaft, and means for retaining the exhaust valve in the open position after it has been moved to that position; substantially as described.

18. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, an engine shaft, a piston in the cylinder connected to the shaft and moving within the cylinder on suction, compression, power and exhaust strokes successively, inlet and exhaust valves for the cylinder, and a valve-operating mechanism including a rod reciprocated by the engine shaft over a predetermined path once during each revolution of the engine shaft and operating to open the inlet valve in each suction stroke and the exhaust valve near the' end of each power stroke in the operation of the engine; substantially as described.

19. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, an engine shaft, a piston in the cylinder connected to the shaft and moving within the cylinder on suction, compression, power and exhaust strokes successively, inlet and exhaust valves for the cylinder, a single connection to the two valves from a. part moving in correspondence with the rotation of the engine shaft for opening the inlet valve in each suction stroke and the exhaust valve near the end of each power stroke in the opera-tion of the engine, means for holding the exhaust valve in the open position and means for positively closing the exhaust valve near the end of the exhaust stroke; substantially as described.

20. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, a piston, an engine shaft to which the piston is connected, inlet and exhaust valves for the cylinder, and a valve operating mechanism connected to the two valves for operating them alternately during successive revolutions of the engine shaft, the valve operating mechanism being actuated once during each revolution of the engine shaft and arranged to operate one valve during one revolution of the engine shaft and the Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the other during the next revolution of the engine shaft; substantially as described.

21. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, a piston, an engine shaft to which 'the piston is connected, inlet and exhaust valves for the cylinder, and a valve-operating connection to the two valves actuated by the engine in each rotation of the engine shaft and operating the two valves alternately under the control of the pressure existing within the cylinder; substantiallyv as described.

22. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, a piston, an engine shaft to which the )iston is connected, inlet and exhaust valves or the cylinder, and a valve gear actuated by the engine in each rotation of the engine shaft and operating the two valves alternately, the selection of the valve operated by said gear being determined by the pressure existing within the cylinder; substantially as described.

23. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising the combination of a cylinder, a piston, an engine shaft to which the piston is connected, inlet and exhaust valves for the cylinder, a connection between the inlet and exhaust valves, and a valveoperating mechanism actuated by the engine in each rotation of the engine shaft and actuating said connection so as to operate the latter in each rotation of the engine shaft, the two valves being operated alternately when said connection is actuated under the control of the pressure existing within the cylinder; substantially as described.

ln testimon whereof I aiiix my signature.

JREGORY J. SPOHRER.

Gnmmissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

